How this trust score was computed
Trust blends alignment (40%): does the outlet rank games the way players do; decoded accuracy (30%): after translating the outlet's own scale habits (a '7/10 means mediocre' scale is decoded, not punished), how well its reviews predict player sentiment; and player-side (30%): on games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, whose side it took. Recent reviews weigh more (2-year half-life), and the blend is shrunk toward a neutral prior (60) so small samples can't peg the scale. Player quality is launch-window Steam sentiment, so outlets aren't punished for reviewing a launch build that later got patched.
Controversy record: on 9 games where press consensus and players sharply disagreed, this reviewer sided with players 2 times.
Computed 6m ago · full methodology →
Outlet vs. players
Each dot is a game both this outlet and players scored. The dashed line is perfect agreement: dots above it mean the outlet was more generous than players, below it more harsh.
Biggest disagreements with players
The receipts: games where this outlet's verdict landed furthest from player sentiment.
- -29POSTAL 2outlet 65 · players 94
- +30Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Editionoutlet 97 · players 67
- -23Shadow Warrioroutlet 70 · players 93 · Oct 2013
- -36Wargame: Airland Battleoutlet 60 · players 97 · Jul 2013
- -20Magickaoutlet 75 · players 95 · Feb 2011
- -25Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editionoutlet 60 · players 85 · Dec 2013
- -23The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsingoutlet 70 · players 93 · Jul 2013
- +10Split/Secondoutlet 85 · players 75
Recent reviews (67 tracked)
- 80Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's CurseJan 8, 2014
“There may be some complaints about the game being a linear affair, with nothing in the way of free-form exploration. Those complaints are absolutely accurate, but I hardly view it's linear approach as something to whine about. It lets the story run it's course without the chance of the player running off the rails trying to dig around through a branching story.”
read full review ↗ - 85Charlie MurderDec 18, 2013
“Charlie Murder is a hard-rocking good time on its own merits, not the least of which are the multiplayer and RPG facets that combine with satisfying classic Ska Studios brawling gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 60Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced EditionDec 13, 2013
“I said it before on the first game and I'll say it again here. There is nothing to recommend this version of Baldur's Gate II over the original version available on GOG.com. ”
read full review ↗ - 70Shadow WarriorOct 16, 2013
“It's a lengthy romp with plenty of action, though it does fall somewhat flat when it comes to being memorable or offering stand-out encounters; it's gory entertainment, doesn't take itself seriously -- the recent release of "Viscera Cleanup Detail" confirms that -- and has some good first-person swordplay for $40.”
read full review ↗ - 90Brothers - A Tale of Two SonsSep 24, 2013
“Like an exceptionally well-done dramatic movie or must-read book just too good to stop watching or put down, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has striking visuals, a strong narrative and good-enough puzzles. However, it will be most remembered for its engrossing, dramatic and emotionally charged adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 80Company of Heroes 2Sep 10, 2013
“Relic Entertainment cleared the hurdle the original game set as far as I'm concerned. Tweaking, remoulding and teasing out the underlying systems of the original, and then layering things like cold weather, may not set the world on fire like the original Company of Heroes did but it's still a solid strategy game and with the right support and continued release of content I can see it living on for quite some time.”
read full review ↗ - 80Dragon's CrownAug 13, 2013
“Dragon's Crown is a throw-back game that borrows heavily from side scrolling beat-'em-ups. The end result is a modernized interpretation of a classic genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60Wargame: Airland BattleJul 25, 2013
“The other knock against the single player campaign is that there's no option to save your progress. No option to save your progress. It bears repeating because this is 2013! What the hell?”
read full review ↗ - 70The Incredible Adventures of Van HelsingJul 8, 2013
“For a game that seems to be positioning itself as the anti-Diablo, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing puts in a strong, if kind of rough, performance. ”
read full review ↗ - 90Rogue LegacyJun 30, 2013
“In the end, Rogue Legacy is great. It's gobbled up a large amount of my time with untold more hours likely to be consumed in the days and weeks to come.”
read full review ↗ - 90CastleStormJun 18, 2013
“More than just the typical tower defense game, CastleStorm packs a thunder and lighting one-two punch with a stellar single-player campaign that has plenty of strategy and old-school hack & slashing along with a solid online mode when it's time to test the tower defending mettle against human adversaries.”
read full review ↗ - 85The Night of the RabbitJun 14, 2013
“All in all, Night of the Rabbit was an extremely enjoyable game, one certainly that most adventure game enthusiasts will have a fun time with.”
read full review ↗ - 75PlanetSide 2May 10, 2013
“The shooter fundamentals are all there. The visuals are great but the progression just doesn't seem to deliver any payoff for players outside of the hardcore. It's not quite as much of a shameless cash grab as something out of Zynga, but it definitely sours the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 85BioShock InfiniteApr 17, 2013
“It’s a cool setting filled with all sorts of small touches that show due care and attention paid to the fiction Irritional created and the closing 20-minutes are powerful, even if the player does little except get an extended “explanation” but I'd dispute the notion that this is somehow the pinnacle of video games because there's enough that's simply average, like the actual layout of the levels (aside from sky-lines), that those making this claim are simply seeing something that isn't present in this dimension.”
read full review ↗ - 85DmC: Devil May CryFeb 25, 2013
“All in all, DMC was a fun surprise to review and one of the best games released this year.”
read full review ↗